Awaken My Heart.

I love sleep. I mean, come on, who doesn’t? I will find every excuse not to go to sleep but when it comes to getting up in the morning, I want to hang a giant “Do not disturb!” sign across my face until I am ready to wake up.

Between jet lag, laying awake at night thinking, and long days here in Uganda, I have had a hard time being the early riser I need to be. So when the kids started school this week, I was not excited about the house coming alive with 22 little ones between the ages of 6 and 12 at the seldomly seen hour of 5am. I knew we had to be in the car by 7am, so my goal was to at least be conscious and decent by 6:45...

By the time I dragged myself around getting ready, the kids had already gotten dressed, eaten breakfast, and washed their dishes all by themselves! Hair was combed, teeth were brushed and most of them were patiently waiting to be on their way.

By the time we played human Tetris getting all 22 plus 2 adults into a 15 passenger van, I was ready for sleep again! We started the 20 minute ride to school. Benjah (orange jacket), who was somewhere lost in the sea of faces behind me, said a prayer for our day and our travels. Ok, I thought, nap time! It was then that every little voice in the car burst out in song, “Good morning Jesus! Good morning Lord!...” My eye bounced back open and chills covered my body. 

They continued to sing and sing in (almost) perfect harmony all the way to school. As soon as one song ended someone else would start leading their favorite song next. My eyes filled with tears and my heart fluttered as the sun still rose and the streets starting filling with the hustle and bustle of a new day.

And to just think, I almost missed this moment because I thought I was too tired. It made me wonder how many other blessings I’ve missed in life while “sleeping.” What if there were hundreds of opportunities for God to do amazing things in my life, but instead I selfishly chose to be lazy because it would take me out of my comfort zone. When I’m asleep in the spirit, I don’t give God the opportunity to act and reveal miracles in my life. 

I so quickly ask God to do things for me. I want Him to show me His power and prove Himself over and over by doing things my way when I want them. Yet, I sleep. And when I don’t see His miracle, I get frustrated.

The singing continued and Joann belted out, “My greatest miracle is already here!...” A smile crept across my face. God has put so many miracles in my life. I am living one right now! But because I haven’t rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and it’s not exactly in the form I expected it, I don’t realize it. What other miracles in disguise am I not letting God reveal to me? How can I be more open to being completely awake and ready for Him to do amazing things in my life?

I’m excited to see what the next 6 months in Uganda bring. I pray that I will be completely awake and susceptible to God’s voice the miraculous things He will be doing in my life and how I can impact those around me through Him.

And to think, I almost missed this moment because I thought I was too tired. It made me wonder how many other blessings I have missed in life while “sleeping.” What if there were hundreds of opportunities for God to do amazing things in and around me, but instead I selfishly chose to be lazy and fearful because it would take me out of my comfort zone. When I am asleep in the spirit, I don’t give God the opportunity to act and reveal miracles in my life. 

So quickly I ask God to do things for me. I want Him to show me His power and prove Himself over and over by doing things my way when I want them. Yet, I sleep. And when I never see His miracle, I get frustrated.

The singing continued and Joann belted out, “My greatest miracle is already here!...” A smile crept across my face. God has put so many miracles in my life. I am living one right now! But because I haven’t rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and it’s not exactly in the form I expected, I don’t recognize it. What other miracles in disguise am I not letting God reveal to me? How can I be more open to being completely awake and ready for Him to do amazing things in my life?

I am so excited to see what the next 6 months in Uganda bring. I pray that I will be completely awake and susceptible to God’s voice, the miraculous things He will be doing in my life and how I can impact those around me through Him.

Psalm 108

“My heart is steadfast, O God: I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. for great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.”